Freight glossary / Accessorials and charges

What is Detention in freight?

Detention is the charge a carrier bills when a driver waits at a shipper or receiver beyond the free time agreed in the rate confirmation. Free time is usually a fixed window after arrival, and detention accrues by the hour once it expires. It exists because a truck sitting at a dock earns nothing and cannot be dispatched elsewhere, so the cost of the delay lands on the party causing it.

Also called: detention time, detention pay.

Related terms

• Free time
• Accessorial
• Rate confirmation
• Layover